Potato digger



A. E. YOUNG March 13, 1951 POTATO DIGGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 6, 1945 INVENTOR. AUSTIN E. YOUNG WITNESS 6 5W March 13, 1951 A. E. YoUNG 2,544,744

POTATO DIGGER Filed July 6, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 25 INVENTOR.

AUSTIN E. YOUNG A TTORNE YS.

WITNESS ricultural implements and more Patented Mar. 13, 1 951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Austin E. Sir onus, isyracuse, Syracuse Chilled Blow C0,, -Inc.-,

a corporation of New York o asi aria Syracuse, N. 'Y.,

'Ap'plicationJuIy '6; 1945, 603,472 '6 Claims. (01. in-1'25) The present invention relates generally to agparti'cula-rly to potato diggers and the like.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of a potato digger so constructed and arranged as to handle two rows but without requiring a machine of excessive width. More particularly, it is a feature of this invention to provide a two row potato digger having a central digging blade with shovels cooperating with the bladeto dig two rows of potatoes and to engage the laterally outer portions or the soil worked and turn it toward a central portion of the digger, so as to assure that all of the potatoes dug will be directed onto the elevator or conveyor chain of the machine. Further, it is a feature of this invention to provide means cooperating with the elevator or conveyor chain and providing a novel form of agitation and agitation controlwhereby all of the excess soil raised with the potatoes from both rows by the digging blade and shovels'wil l be eliminated but without excessive bruising or unnecessary handling of the potatoes frorr'iboth rows.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a new and improved frame construction for a two row potato digger in which, without excessive weight, adequate strength and'rigidi ty are provided so as to sustain adequately all of the loads incident to the digging and handling of two rows of potatoes. 7

These and other objects and advantages of the auxiliary end present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which one form of the present invention has been shown by way of illustration.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan View of a two row digger in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated.

Figure 2 is a side view of the digger shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front endview showing particularly one of the auxiliary side shovels.

Figure 4 is airagmentary side view showing particularly the agitation control.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top View of the agitation control mechanism shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 4, showing an optional position of the agitation control mechanism. g L Y Referring now to the drawings, particularly Figures 1 and '2, the reference numeral, I indicates the main frame offth digger. Themain frame I includes right and left hand frame bars 2 and 3 which extend in a generally longitudinal direction and are connected togetherat their front .ends by a front cross bar '4 to which the bars 5 and 6 making up the major portion ofa hitch frame I are rigidly connected. A pair of hitch plates 8 are connected to the "forward portions of the bars 5 'ahdsk Preferably, a lug l l is secured to each end of the cross bar '4 and is connected by a. pivot member 2 .to the front end of the associated main f-rame bar. The front frame member '5 preferably is in the form of a pipe or tube, and disposed at each end of the same is a frame bar extension. M to which a bracket 55 secured,-

by welding or the like. swingabiy mbuntedfor movement about a vertical aXis'iii' a sleeve 1*6 .sec-ur'edas by bolts 17 to each bracket 1 5 acaster wheel yoke 18in which a supporting caster wheel rs is journaled. The spacing between 'thca's'ter wheels 19' may be ad"- I t relative toithe front fra me bar 4.

rise-cone from frame bar '23 is disposed rearw'ardiy of mari ime bar 4 which ma be cons'idered as a senior the hitch frame 1', if desired, am ne ends of meter-23 may be secured by welding, attaching brackets, of the like, to the main longitudinal frame bars '2 anus. Secured to' each of the main frame bars 2 and 3, generally near the rer part thereof, is a main wheel bracket 2 5. The mam frame bars '2'an'd 3' are preferably in the f0 made up er a pair 0 a Of 9; gles, each bar being gles' s and 2? disposed, respec'tiyely, at the front and rear of the machine, with their horizontal flanges overlapping and secured together, as by bolts 28 or the like. The two main wheel brack'ts 25 are secured, as by bolts -23, tothe veit'lal ge'o'f the main frame angle section 27; dc rag relation. The two brackets; 25 are rig y connected together by a main era's 33' preferablyis Welded at its ends to the brackets 25' to form therewith a rigid supporting" andracing structure. Theih eis supported centraiiy on a pair or ground eeis'e iwnicn are our'naie for rotation'on the 10We1f $f ifidl portions a pair o'f stllb aide hanger'sfss, each having an upper fiaring section which is apertured' to l'C'iV 2. plurality (31f torts 38 B37 which each han er is rigifily secured t6" the associated bracket-f5; latt'elf iS'fif'O'Vi'deH with dinerent sets of holes si sotnatt e-s'tub a ie' hangers 15B -Sei3lfid to thfifn in different positions of vertical adjustment, thereby providing for raising or lowering the frame 4 relative to the ground, as may be desirable or necessary. A longitudinal center member 39 is secured, as by welding, to the central portion of the tubular cross member 33 and extends both fore and aft with respect thereto.

A digger frame indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 40 is pivoted, as at 45, on a pair of hanger brackets 49 fixed to the angles 21. The digger blade frame 49 comprises a pair of angle bars or side members 4| and 42, and these bars extend forwardly and generally downwardly. The front ends of the angles 4| and 42 are rigidly connected together by a transverse angle 43. Secured as by bolts or the like, to the angle 43 is a relatively long transversely extending digging blade 44, the ends 45 of which terminate short of or are disposed laterally inwardly of the sides of the digger, as best shown in Figure 1. At each end of the blade 44 an auxiliary shovel of the moldboard type, each indicated by the reference numeral 41, is disposed. Each auxiliary shovel 41 is bolted to the laterally outer portion of the digger frame angle 43 and is so disposed that the laterally inner edge 48 of each shovel is disposed in abutting relation with respect to the associated edge 45 of the blade 44. An adjustable brace 50 is connected between the front end of each digger frame angle, 4| or 42, and the laterally outer portion of the auxiliary shovel 41, as best shown in Figure 2. The brace 50 is adjustable, comprising two parts i and 52 connected threadedly together and held in different positions of adjustment by a pair of lock nuts 53. The rear section 5i of each of the braces is pivoted, as at 55, to a bracket 58 that is bolted, as at 51, to the horizontal flange of the associated digger frame angle, and the front end of the other brace section 52 is secured by a bolt 58 to the lower and laterally outer portion of the auxiliary shovel associated therewith. Each shovel 41 also includes a moldboard section 61 which extends upwardly and at the same time curves inwardly. This portion of the auxiliary shovel 41 is supported by a nose member 63 having an upwardly and rearwardly extending surface, preferably but not necessarily in the form of a casting, which is also bolted to the front end of the associated digger frame angle. Each auxiliary shovel 41 includes a digging or cutting edge 65 which extends forwardly and laterally outwardly, as shown in Figure 1, to a point well beyond the vertical plane of the main frame angles at that side of the implement. At its laterally inner end, each edge 65 is provided with a section 96 that is extended laterally inwardly beyond the abutting edges 45 and 49 so as to protect these parts and prevent roots, vines and the like, from becoming wedged into the space between these abutting edges, in the event some space develops. However, the brace 50 is normally adjusted so that it firmly and forcibly holds the edge 48 of the shovel 41 against the associated edge 45 of the intermediate digger blade 44. As will be clear from Figure 1, the laterally outer and forwardmost portions of the auxiliary shovels 41, in effect, reach out and gather in soil from both rows and the moldboard sections H of the shovels then direct these portions of the soil inwardly and rearwardly toward the central portions of the machine. In this way, the digger is enabled to adequately handle two rows of any normal spacing but without requiring that the machine itself be excessively wide. Furthermore, as best shown in Figure 3, for most normal operating positions, the cutting edges 55 of the auxiliary shovels 41 form laterally spaced furrows in the soil, generally at or slightly below the level of operation of the front cutting edge of the blade 44, and it will also be noted that the spacing of the shovels 41 corresponds to the spacing laterally between the two main wheels 34, particularly the lower portions thereof since the stub axle hangers 3B are so formed that a certain amount of camber is imparted to the wheels 34 so as to bring their lower most ground engaging portions into positions where they may pass along the path or space formed by the furrows opened by the shovels 41. This particular arrangement is especially desirable since not only does it form a smooth path for the wheels, but, what is probably more important, it serves to hold the machine on the rows, especially desirable when operating on side hills or under other conditions where there is any tendency for the machine to skid or slew laterally away from its proper position over the two rows being dug.

The potatoes dug from the two rows by the shovels 41 and blade 48 are delivered generally to the central portion of the machine and deposited onto a pair of potato conveyor or elevator chains 1|. These conveyors or chains are of conventional construction and hence have been illustrated fragmentarily in Figure 1. The front portions of the chains 11 are supported on pairs of conical rollers 12 and 13, the laterally inner rollers 13 being mounted by suitable bearing means on a central longitudinally extending dig ger frame bar 14 which is welded at its front end to the angle 43 and is pivotally connected at its rear end by a pin or bolt 15 to the front end portion 15 of the main center frame member 39. The pivot pin or bolt 15 also serves to support a pair of central chain supporting rollers 11, and similar supporting rollers 18 are journaled at other points on the center bar 14 and the digger frame bars 4| and 42, as best shown in Figure 1. Also, the bars 4|, 42 and 14 support agitating cams 19 by suitable brackets and bearing means of more or less conventional construction, and the agitating sprockets 19, as best shown in Figure 2, have chain-engaging portions 81 which, during operation, successively engage portions of the associated elevator or conveyor chains and agitate the same in a vertical direction, as in conventional practice. Other agitator sprockets 83, generally of the same construction as described immediately above, are mounted on the angles 21 and the center main frame member 39. The rear portions of the conveyor chains 1'! pass around and are driven by pairs of sprocket-s 86 which are fixed to a cross shaft 81 at the rear of the machine. The cross shaft 81 is supported by suitable bearing means in angle brackets 88 that are bolted to the rear ends to the main frame angles 21, and secured to each end of the drive shaft 81 is a driving sprocket 89 over which a driving chain 9| is trained, as best shown in Figure 2. The upper end of the chain 9| passes around a sprocket 92 that is fixed to a jackshaft 93 carried by upwardly extending brackets 94. A drive shaft assembly 95, of more or less conventional construction so far as the present invention is concerned, serves to drive the jackshaft 93 from the power takeoff of the tractor. The front end of the drive shaft assembly 95 preferably is supported by a bracket 96 on a lifting shaft 91 which is journaled in brackets fixed to the "5. main frame angles 26, as best shown in Figure 2.

haterally outer arms 98 are hired to the laterally cuter ends of the lifting shaft 9"! and are corn nect-ed by links 99 tothe front portions of the digger frame angles 4i and '42, whereby rocking motion imparted to the lifting Shaft 91 will to raise or lower the front end of the digger unit- 40, including the shovels 44 and 41. If desired, and if the tractor propelling the implement provided with a hydraulic power lift, an arm 'I I (Figure 1) may be fixed to the lifting shaft 97 in a position to receive a hydraulic jack or-pcwer lift unit I 03-, which latter device may be anchored to a bracket I84 fixed to the righthand main frame angle 26. Fluid may be delivered to and received from the cylinder unit I03 through a pair of-hoselines I05. In cases where the tractorpropelling the machine is not equipped with the hydraulic cylinder power lift, the potato digger may be equipped with a power lift device such as the one shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 526,828, filed March 15, 1944, now S. Patent 2,417,580, issued March 18, 1947 and in such an event the same preferably is mounted on the right side of the machine. The power lift unit need not be described in detail since it is fully disclosed and claimed in my above-men' tioned co-pending application and no claims 'di-* rected thereto are included in this application.

Mention was made above to the fact that the agitating sprockets 79 and 83 impart a certain amount of vertical agitation to the potato chains H so as to shake loose dirt, debris and the like from the potatoes. The major work of agitating the potato chains is usually done by the front agitating sprockets 19 and also the agitating sprockets 83 forward of the tubular cross frame member 33. By the time the potatoes reach the rear part of the machine, usually practically all of the dirt and the like has been shaken from the potatoes. Under certain rather severe conditions, however, it may benecessary to provide continued agitation even at the rear of the ma= chine, and that is the reason for mounting the rear agitating sprockets 83 rearwardly of the wheels 34, as shown in Figure 2. However, it is not always necessary to provide much agitation and in some cases no agitation at all attherear ends of the chains II is necessary. Therefore, according to the principles of the present invention, I have provided a new and useful mechanism for controlling the amount of agitation that is imparted to the rear portions of theconveyor chains. Referring now more particularly to Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, across shaft III] is mounted by suitable bearing means carried by the rear portions of the main wheel brackets 25, and two pairs of arms III are fixed, as by welding, to the shaft III), as best shown in Figure 1. Secured to the swinging end of each of these arms isa bearing bracket I I2 on which a smooth chain-supporting roller H3 is journaled. As best shown in Figure 1, each of these rollers I I3 is disposed in alignment with the other associated agitating sprockets and rollers I8, T9 and 83, but the arms III are of such length that by rocking the cross shaft I I!) in one direction or the other, the rollers I I3 may be raised into a sufnciently high position to lift both chains II entirely ofi of the rear agitating sprockets 83 and/or at least partially off of the front agitating sprockets 83. Lowering the rollers H3, as by swinging the cross shaft H0 in a counter-clockwise direction (Figure 2) will serve to let the chains H down to a greater or lesser extent onto the agitating sprockets 83 and thus cause the latter to impart more or less agitation to the chains.

The erossshaft Ito is provided atone end with an operating arm I2 'I (Figure 4) which is apertured at its swinging end to receive a pivot or bolt- I 23 by which the lower "end of an operating and adjusting link I24 is connected thereto. The upper end of the member I24 is formed with 'a handle section I25 and also a plurality of notches I26 along its forward edge, as best shown in Figure '4. shown in Figure 5, the operating link I24 passes upwardly through the apertured portion I21 or a plate I28 which is bolted, as at I2 9, to them'ain frame. SWingably mounted on the pivot I23- is a short arm I33 which is-aperturd to receive a bolt I34 by which i the lower-end ofa I35 is connected there-' to. 'I'h upper end of the spring I35 is anchored, as at I 36, to the laterally outer portion of the plate I28. When the arm I33 occupies the position, relative to the link I24, shown in Figure 4, the head of the bolt I34 engages the forward edge 'of thelink I24 and hence the tension in the spring I35 tends to keep the rear edge of the link I24- against the rear end of the slot I21 through which the link I24 extends. The spring [35* therefore acts to keep the notched portion on the link I24 away from the front edge I 38 of the slot I21. When in this posit-ion, the link I24 does not preventtheup anddown movement of the arm 2-I and the consequent rocking of the shaftI'Ill. However, the spring I35 also acts to hold the agitation control rollers III in an upper position, but the spring I35 yields down wardly proportionately to jthe amount or weight of material on the cams 11-. Therefore, with the parts arranged as shown in Figure 4, an automatic agitation control is provided inasmuch as the greater the load on the earns the greater the amount of agitation, since the more the spring I35 yields the more the cams II will be permitted to'l'ower and the greater their amount or extent of contact with the associated agitatin sprockets 8 If desired, alink I4] maybe connected, as at M2; to the rear end of the arm I2 I and extended upwardly to a point, as at I43, where it may be connected-to the arm I44 of a shock absorber mechanism I45, which may be of conventional construction, acting as a dashpot to prevent or restrain too rapid oscillation "ofthe shaft I II) and arm I2l'. Preferably, the shock absorber I45 permits free movement in the downward direction but restrains sudden upward movement of the rollers III.

Referring now to Figure '6, the spring I35 and associated parts are so arranged that the arm I33 maybeswung around to a rear position, with the head of the bolt I34 engaging the front edge of the link I24 so that the spring I35 tends to hold the link so that one or the other of its several notches I26- interlocks with the forward end l38-of the slotI'Z'I. By virtue of this arrangement, the arm I 2I may be held against oscillation and the rollers II I maintained in a given position, which position may be adjusted manually by momentarily releasing the link I24 and raising or lowering the same so as to raise or lower the rollers III. The link I24 is easily accessible to an operator on the seat of the machine.

Potatoes coming from the rear ends of the elevator chains II are deposited onto a smooth path formed by a roller I weighted, as by being filled with water or other liquid, and connected to float or trail by a pair of straps NH. The upper end of each strap I! is pivoted by any suitable means, such as a bolt I52 carried in a hole I53 (Figure 4) in the adjacent wheel bracket 25, to the latter, and the lower end of each strap or link is slotted, as at 154, to receive a stud I55 forming the axle at that end of the roller. Thus, the roller I50 pivots or trails behind the shovels 44, 41 and by virtue of its own weight forms a smooth surface onto which the potatoes may be dropped and which they may be picked up later.

While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the-principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particular details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A two row potato digger comprising frame means, a generally transverse blade adapted to span at least the major portion of two rows, ground wheels for said frame means disposed generally rearwardly of said transverse blade, and a pair of auxiliary shovels fixed to said frame means at the ends, respectively, of said transverse blade, said shovels being disposed so that portions thereof laterally outwardly of the transverse blade lie below the latter and each of said shovels being shaped so that, at least at the deeper operating levels, said shovel forms a path in the soil in the nature of a furrow, said shovels being spaced so that the furrows formed thereby correspond to the width of said ground wheels whereby the latter track in said furrows and are guided thereby.

2. A potato digger comprising means serving as a frame, a pair of laterally spaced supporting wheels therefor, a digging blade carried by said frame means, and means disposed generally at the ends of said blade extending below the latter and engageable with the ground for forming furrows therein below the level of the soil traversed by the blade and spaced laterally to receive said laterally spaced wheels, the disposition of the latter in said furrows serving to prevent the digger from shifting laterally relative to the row or rows being harvested.

3. A potato digger comprising a main frame, a digger frame pivoted thereto, a transverse digger blade fixed to the front end of said digger frame, the ends of said blade terminating laterally inwardly of the sides of said digger frame, nose members fixed to the sides of said digger frame and each including an upwardly and rearwardly extending surface, side members carried at the sides, respectively, of said digger frame and connected at the front ends to said nose members, and auxiliary shovels of the moldboard type fixed to the front end of said digger frame at the ends, respectively, of said blade and supported at their upper portions against said nose members.

4. The invention set forth in claim 3, further characterized by said digger frame having side members, portions of which are disposed laterally outwardly of said nose members, and brace means extending from said side members at points adjacent said nose members laterally outwardly and forwardly to said auxiliary shovels. 4 5. A digger for removing root crops and the like from two spaced rows, comprising a main frame including generally fore and aft extending laterally spaced frame bars, a digger frame including fore and aft extending arms pivotally connected at their rear ends with said bars of the main frame, transverse blade means carried by the forward ends of said arms and having a transverse length sufiicient to span said two spaced apart rows, and front support means for said main frame comprising a transverse member, laterally outwardly directed extensions fixed to the ends of said member, and ground wheels carried by said laterally outwardly extending extensions, said ground wheels being spaced apart so as to span said two rows.

6. A potato digger comprising frame means including side members, a transverse digging blade carried by said frame means, rearwardly movable conveyor means carried by said frame means and extending laterally outwardly beyond the ends of said transverse blade, a pair of laterally outer auxiliary shovels, each having an outer portion, extending laterally outwardly beyond the associated side frame member and the associated laterally outer portion of said conveyor means, and an inner edge extending laterally inwardly beyond the adjacent laterally outer portion of said conveyor means and adapted to abut against and form a continuation of the associated end of said blade, each shovel being bers and supportingly receiving the upper portions of said shovels-for supporting the latter.

AUSTIN E. YOUNG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 70,108 Norton Oct. 22, 1867 1,580,683 Sang Apr. 13, 1926 1,657,414 Silver Jan. 24, 1928 1,715,218 Wright May 28, 1929 1,761,286 Zuckerman June 3, 1930 1,815,087 Zuckerman July 21, 1931 1,994,087 Hargens Mar. 19, 1935 2,060,688 Pryor Nov. 10, 1936 2,077,462 Cook Apr. 20, 1937 2,154,429 Bateman Apr. 18, 1939 2,274,941 Teuscher Mar. 3, 1942 2,347,167 Baker Apr. 25, 1944 2,424,155 Emerick July 15, 194"! 

